- Public beta tends to be more stable as compared to the developer beta channel and is open to all users
- The new updates come with India-specific features such as bilingual Siri support, transliteration keyboard
- The new iOS 17 features were showcased at WWDC 23 event last month and are expected to receive a stable release this fall
Apple has finally opened its public beta portal for upcoming OS versions making their way to the brand’s product lineups later this year. Consumers can now opt to test the new public beta software of iOS 17, iPadOS 17, watchOS 10, macOS Sonoma, HomePod Software 17, and tvOS 17. With these new upgrades, there are certain India-specific features in tow too.
How to download iOS 17 Public Beta and more
Those who are eager to test out the upcoming software ahead of stable release in September can do so by opting for the Apple Beta program. While developers already have access to separate beta updates, the public beta is meant to be for general consumers and enthusiasts.
This release channel tends to be slightly more stable than the developer version.
- You can opt for the Apple Beta program through this portal.
- Just open the website on the device you wish to test new versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, HomePod and tvOS.
- Log in with your Apple ID to get started with an easy process that will be displayed on the screen.
India-specific features in upcoming OS versions
- Siri now has a better bilingual experience with iOS 17, iPadOS 17, watchOS 10, and macOS Sonoma. Indian users can interact with the in-built voice assistant using a mix of English and Indian languages such as Hindi, Punjabi, Kannada, Telugu, and Marathi.
- iOS, iPadOS, and macOS already support transliteration keyboards for Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, Marathi, and Gujarati but the brand is introducing support for more languages with the new versions. The transliteration keyboard will now be available for Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam too, making a total of 10 languages available for the Indian market.
- Other updates include a better dual-SIM experience on the iPhone. With iOS 17, users can now sort their messages between primary and secondary SIMs. Separate ringtones can be set for each SIM now which should come as major convenience to dual-SIM users.
- Some new features include signing into Apple ID with your phone number. Earlier, users could only use their registered email ID to log in to their Apple ID account.
- iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 also come with support for an extended call history function, full-page screenshots, message filtering, and a new built-in dictionary in Punjabi.
iOS 17 was unveiled during Apple’s WWDC 23 event in June and introduced new features such as StandBy mode, contact cards, a new Journal app, iMessage upgrades, and a Live Voicemail feature. Meanwhile, the brand focused on new Lock screens for iPadOS 17 and macOS Sonoma along with various other improvements.
